Simon Trundle's story

Craig's cry for justice

SENTENCED to rot for nearly 50 years in a Brazilian prison, Craig Alden is crying out for justice. And fighting for his right to a fair trial are the pastor and members of New Life Church, Wellingborough.

They are convinced that if the full details of his case came before a judge and jury, Craig would be declared innocent of a variety of charges - from general neglect to alleged sexual abuse of children.

Street children

Simon Trundle, who leads the Northamptonshire church (part of the Pioneer network), has been engaged in a struggle with Brazilian authorities and the British Government to bring Craig into freedom. The 35-year-old British citizen used to run an award-winning orphanage for Brazil’s ‘street children’. But now the tables have turned - and he is the one who appears to have been abandoned.  ‘I hope and pray every night that I shall not have to wake up the following morning in this cell,’ said Craig in a recent phone interview, ‘and that the constant nightmares will stop.’  Despite having drawn international attention and support for his pioneering work at the Abrigo Warboys Brazil orphanage in Planaltina de Goiás, Craig was arrested on 1st July 1st 2002.

Strip searches

Evidence since gained by Simon Trundle has led him to believe that the charges have been fabricated - and that Craig is an innocent person being denied the basic right of a defence.

‘The children I raised at the home are now young adults,’ said Craig. ‘They have to go through humiliating strip searches in order to visit me - a person who was supposed to have neglected them.’  And those young people are still on his heart: ‘I was stolen from them and they have been plunged into poverty and despair.’ Visit the official campaign website at: www.freecraigalden.com

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